O'Driscoll on guard

Brian O'Driscoll is hoping the Millennium Stadium continues to prove a happy hunting ground for the Irish when his side take on Warren Gatland's Wales tomorrow in a RBS 6 Nations clash (KO 5pm).

Ireland have carved out an impressive record in Cardiff, where they have lost just once in 12 meetings dating back as far as 1983.

"It's very, very loud and is definitely one of the best stadiums in the world to play in because of the atmosphere and the noise generated there. The crowd is right in on top of you," he said.

"It's not somewhere we love going to, but it's not somewhere that we fear going to. It's a game that's up for grabs depending on whether you play better than the opposition. And they're the sort of odds you want going into any game."

Ireland clinched the Grand Slam in 2009 at the Millennium Stadium while the Munster players within the Irish squad have tasted double success in the Heineken Cup with victories in 2006 and 2008.

"A lot of guys who have played there before have good memories," added O'Driscoll. "The Munster boys won two Heineken Cups there while we have a Slam to remember from the last time we were in Cardiff.

O'Driscoll will come face to face to Jamie Roberts, his midfield partner from the 2009 British and Irish Lions team which performed so well in South Africa.

"Jamie's a talented footballer, a great ball carrier and a big, hard physical guy who uses his size really well," said O'Driscoll.

"He's the sort of guy who accelerates into tackles and knows what his power can do. He's definitely a player of a very high calibre and getting better with each Test he plays. He's a big threat."

Actor and Millennium Stadium Tour Guide Gareth Bale has been performing his one-man play about Wales rugby legend Ray Gravell across Wales. He chats to WRU TV before taking his show to the Edinburgh Festival.

After widespread consultation, the WRU has made major changes to its pathway programme for girls rugby with a spring and summer season being introduced with immediate effect in order to respond to a clear demand to play the game.

Martyn Phillips addresses the press after being unveiled as the Welsh Rugby Union's new group chief executive. Phillips, who is originally from Fishguard, will work alongside WRU Chairman Gareth Davies, to lead and manage the strategic and operational development and evolution of the governing body at a time of rapid change within the game and will take up his new role at the WRU in the autumn.

The Webb Ellis Cup visited Lampeter on Monday to recognise the fact that the town is celebrating a major milestone as it is believed the first ever game of rugby played in Wales, was in fact played in Lampeter 150 years ago.